469. THE SUPREME COURT ON FILM: GIDEON’S TRUMPET

Peter Josyph

This upbeat series of 3 films, which may be registered for individually, takes a nostalgic walk down Supreme Court “Memory Lane” to a time when the concept of a republic was paramount, and ideals like unanimous opinions, ethical recusals, and avoiding the appearance of impropriety were a part of daily life for the “Supremes.”

The second film in this series features Robert Collins’ GIDEON’S TRUMPET, in which Henry Fonda stars as a plaintiff appealing for proper representation from “Supremes” played by José Ferrer, John Houseman, Dean Jagger, and Sam Jaffe, with Fay Wray in her final performance.  this 1961 film, Clarence Earl Gideon (Henry Fonda) is arrested on charges of petty theft. Unable to afford an expensive lawyer to defend him, he is forced to represent himself and receives a five-year prison sentence. He becomes a model inmate and jailhouse scholar, focusing on the Fourteenth Amendment which guarantees U.S. citizens the right of due process and making a startling discovery that changes everything. This film is based on a true story.

1:00 – 3:30 p.m.                                                                                                                               1 Session

Thursday, June 12                                                                                                                            Fee:  $50

ABOUT THE LECTURER

Peter Josyph works concurrently as a writer, painter, actor, photographer, and filmmaker. He has published 12 books, including five on Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Cormac McCarthy, and a series of fictions about Henri Matisse; his paintings have exhibited around the world, and his films include: Shakespeare in New York; A Few Things Basquiat Did in School; Hell; Bardtalk; No Standing in St. Petersburg; Acting McCarthy: The Making of Billy Bob Thornton’s All the Pretty Horses; and the award-winning Liberty Street: Alive at Ground Zero.